[Spaceships]TL9 Windrider yacht for hard science campaigns

[thtraveller]

A PC craft suitable for a hard science campaign such as Transhuman Space, with practically zero running costs.

Windrider Class Yacht (TL9)

The age of sail returns. The Windrider rides the solar wind across the solar system. Whether it is a local hop to Islandia at L4 or a trip to Mars the Windrider gets you there in style.

Inside are luxurious accommodations fit for royalty. So rather than take the cramped shuttle to Islandia or suffer the coriolis curse on the Mars spin-liner, why not travel in extreme comfort?

When you can take an Earth-Moon jaunt in under 2 days anytime you like and take an Earth-Mars cruise in seven weeks without having to wait in line for the next liner, you know it makes sense. If you are feeling adventurous, you can even take a trip to Saturn in under four months.

Unlike expensive to run rocket craft, the Windrider’s running costs are virtually zero. Just power up the magsail and the solar wind does the rest. So if you want the freedom of the solar system, and your own personal tax haven, invest in a Windrider.

Its 100-ton (SM +6) unstreamlined hull is 60ft long and 25ft diameter.

Design:

Front Hull System
[1] Advanced Metallic Laminate Armor (dDR 7)
[2-6] Habitat (2 luxury cabins, 1 briefing room)
[core] Control Room (Complexity 5, Comm/Sensor 4, 2 control stations)

Central Hull System
[1] Advanced Metallic Laminate Armor (dDR 7)
[2-5] Habitat (1 luxury cabin, 1 cabin, 1 bed sickbay with automed)
[6] Engine Room (1 workstation)
[core] Fusion Power Plant (derated, 1 power point)

Rear Hull System
[1-6!] Magsail (0.006G/375mps) [requires power to activate but not to maintain]

TL Spacecraft dST/HP Hnd/SR HT Move LWt. Load SM Occ dDR Range Cost
PILOTING/TL10 (Low-Performance Spacecraft)
9 Windrider yacht 30 -3/4 13 0.006G/375mps 100 0.8 +6 8ASV 7/7/0 0 $8.13M

Windfighter-class Armed variant: replace one habitat by a Major or medium battery and add $0.5M to the cost.

Sample Trip Time:
- Earth orbit to Lunar orbit (or L4/L5): 46 hours.
- Earth orbit to Mars orbit: 50 days
- Earth orbit to Saturn orbit: 116 days

Operational notes:
The power plant is used to charge up each of the magsail's super-conducting loops in turn.
Final approach to dock with a space station is usually facilitated by a work pod belonging to the station.

[Ulzgoroth]

That's really nifty. Especially since it's got more acceleration than a mass-hording single fusion rocket design.

You're consuming 40% of your mass on propulsion hardware to get it, but the results are interesting.

To be usable, you really need to swap a little bit of habitat space for cargo, so you have somewhere to carry food. And stick your luggage.

[thtraveller]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

To be usable, you really need to swap a little bit of habitat space for cargo, so you have somewhere to carry food. And stick your luggage.

Yup, just remove the cabin for steerage cargo.
I think there are likely to be many variants of this. An external clamp would be a useful mod too.